From January 22 to February 1, 2013, Professor Jia Qingguo, Director of Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding (formerly known as Institute for China-U.S. People-to-People Exchange), was entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a 10-day intensive high-end visit to the U.S. The visit was conducted at the beginning of President Obama’s second term, with the main purpose of understanding the trend of American policy towards China and China-U.S. relations in the next four years and exploring concrete measures for developing China-U.S. relations.Members of the delegation included Professor Zhang Haibin, Associate Professor Gui Yongtao, and Shi Zhanzhuan, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegation first visited Washington. In Washington, the delegation successively held in-depth talks with Mai Aiwen, Director of China Affairs of U.S. National Security Council, Mei Jianhua, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Drew Thompson, Director of China, Mongolia and Taiwan Division of the Ministry of Defense, Lawrence and Ma Haochao, fellows of Asian Affairs at Congressional Research Service, about policy towards China during Obama’s second term, Kerry’s governing idea and style, the Sino-U.S. summit meeting, a new type of great power relationship, the Diaoyu Islands and territorial disputes in the South China Sea, North Korea nuclear issue, and cooperation on climate change.The delegation also visited top American think tanks such as Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Woodrow Wilson Center. They fully exchanged views with heavyweight experts and scholars in the field of international relations in the U.S., such as Kenneth Lieberthal, Jeffry A. Bader, Li Cheng, Bonnie Glaser, J. Stapleton Roy, David Lampton and Sven.
The delegation took a photo in front of the U.S. Department of State
Philadelphia was the second stop of the delegation’s visit to the U.S. In Philadelphia, the delegation visited the University of Pennsylvania and held heated discussions with Professor Jin Meijun on China-U.S. relations.
After the visit to Philadelphia, the delegation rushed to the last stop-New York. The delegation visited major think tanks and universities such as Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and Columbia University. They held fruitful talks with Schwab, Chairman of The National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Senior Vice Chairman Zagrea, Platt, Honorary Chairman of Asia Society, Shaffer, former Deputy Secretary of State, Yi Ming, Director of Asian Division of Council on Foreign Relations, Jervis and Li Anyou, famous professors at Columbia University.
During his visit to the U.S., Professor Jia Qingguo delivered keynote speeches on China-U.S. relations and China’s foreign policy at American University, Center for Strategic and International Studies and the University of Pennsylvania. He pointed out that as a rising country, China has dual identities in many aspects, such as being a developing country as well as a developed country; being a poor country as well as a rich country; being an ordinary country as well as a big country. These contradictory identities determine that China’s interests are often contradictory, and so is its diplomatic behavior. From a historical point of view, China is developing in a positive direction. In the face of the above, the U.S. needs to be patient in handling relations with China and give China more time. On the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, he believed that, after a period of interaction, a new status quo has formed, that is, Japan has nationalized the Diaoyu Islands and China’s maritime surveillance vessels have also regularly cruised the waters of the Diaoyu Islands. Although neither side is entirely satisfied with the situation, it is difficult to change. Facing this new status quo, China and Japan should set up a necessary crisis control mechanism through negotiation to avoid accident and gradually cool down the crisis. His speech aroused heated discussions on the scene and was widely praised.
Professor Jia Qingguo gave a speech at the University of Pennsylvania
Professor Jia Qingguo interacted with teachers and students at the University of Pennsylvania
The delegation visited Roosevelt Park in Washington. This visit was highly valued and warmly received by the U.S. Through the visit, the delegation obtained a great deal of valuable information, deepened the understanding of China-U.S. relations, promoting mutual understanding in the field of academic and policy research between China and the U.S. The visit was fruitful and fully achieved its intended purpose.
Link:http://www.cuppe.pku.edu.cn/jlhd/dwjl/230232.htm
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